INSIDE BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY

Excellence Award Recipients

CHANCELLOR’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING
The Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching recognizes superior teaching in full-time instructors at the graduate, undergraduate or professional level.

Zu-yan Chen, professor of Asian and Asian American Studies, is a master teacher who has nurtured the curriculum in Chinese language and culture, integrated his teaching and scholarship and passed along his passion for his discipline to students. His love for his subject matter and his dedication to students is outstanding. Credited with developing every course in Chinese that he has taught at Binghamton since he arrived in 1987, Chen carries out all classroom discussions entirely in Chinese. He received a doctorate in Chinese literature from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has written four books and dozens of articles, reviews and papers for presentation, and he is the executive editor of the Consortium for Bilingual Texts in Chinese History, Literature, Philosophy, and Religion. He has served on the editorial board of Mediaevalia and is a member of the Association for Asian Studies, the American Oriental Society, the Early Medieval China Group, the T’ang Society, the Chinese Language Teachers Association and the Chinese Society of Tang Literature. He is also a member of the Association for Tang Studies, the Association for Li Bai Studies, the Japanese Association of Chinese Studies and the Society of East Poetic Talks. He has also served as a member of Harpur College Council and the Faculty Senate, as a Dickinson Fellow and on numerous University committees.

Madhusudhan Govindaraju, associate professor of computer science, is an innovative instructor and mentor who is sought after as an adviser by students. Since his arrival at Binghamton University’s Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science in 2003, he has taught a variety of courses at all levels, keeping his materials up to date and tailoring his course plans to the abilities of his students to advance their learning. Govindaraju received a PhD in computer science from Indiana University, Bloomington. With research interests in grid computing, distributed systems, high-performance computing and Web services among other areas, Govindaraju has received funding from the National Science Foundation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Department of Energy and industry. He has authored or co-authored eight journal articles, and presented nearly 30 peer-reviewed conference papers, more than a dozen peer-reviewed workshop papers, two book chapters and four technical reports. Govindaraju has served on program and scholarship committees and has co-chaired workshops for organizations including the First International Workshop on Advances in High-Performance E-Science Middleware and Applications among other events. He has participated on program committees for nearly two dozen national and international meetings and is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the Association for Computing Machinery and the Common Component Architecture Forum. Govindaraju is active in Strategic Partnership for Industrial Resurgence (SPIR) projects, working with graduate students and small and mid-sized businesses to strengthen them by helping them apply technology solutions to make them more competitive.

Professor Gary D. James is a knowledgeable and patient mentor who is respectful and supportive of emerging scholars, approachable and generous with his time. He guides his students, allowing them to gain knowledge on their own. James received a PhD in anthropology (human biology) from Pennsylvania State University. He came to Binghamton as a research professor in 1998. In 2003, he was appointed professor of nursing and professor of anthropology. In 2006, he was also appointed professor of bioengineering. He has served as director for the Institute for Primary and Preventative Health Care since its inception in 1998. James teaches several graduate courses and has chaired 10 PhD committees and served on more than 30 committees. James utilizes practical experience to promote student success and has established collaborations with other agencies to provide internship sites for students, including the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and a local teaching hospital. He has more than 150 scientific publications to his credit and is current president of the Human Biology Association. He is past president of the American Dermatoglyphics Association and a member of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, the American Anthropological Association, and a fellow of the Human Biology Council/Association and the Society of Behavioral Medicine among many other organizations. He has served the University as chair of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee, chair of the University’s Institutional Review Board and a member of dozens of University committees.

Mark E. Reisinger, associate professor of geography, is known for reaching students at all levels, whether majors or non-majors, undergraduate or graduate. His syllabi provide clear objectives and expectations for students, he offers a mix of learning styles and he strives to provide real-world experiences for his students. His teaching style requires students to think critically about the issues at hand. Reisinger received a PhD in geography from Indiana University, Bloomington. Since he joined the Binghamton faculty in 2001, he has established himself as a prolific scholar and mentor to students. He is currently undergraduate director of the Department of Geography and has supervised seven master’s theses and six honors theses. Reisinger has garnered funding from numerous sources to work on the Binghamton University Transportation Study, the City of Binghamton’s East Side Revitalization Plan and a Student Location Analysis, among other projects. He has also served as a research associate for Binghamton University’s Center for Applied Community Research and Development, the University Transportation Research Center, Region II and Binghamton University’s GIS Core Facility. He has authored or co-authored 16 refereed publications and four research reports for clients and has made numerous invited presentations and dozens of conference presentations. He also has two teaching publications to his credit and has produced 10 teaching manuals. Reisinger is a member of the Association of American Geographers, the National Council for Geographic Education, the Urban Affairs Association and the American Planning Association.

Diane R. Wiener, assistant professor of social work, is an energetic and enthusiastic teacher who is known for extending learning beyond the classroom, challenging her students and working to ensure students are well equipped to become effective social workers and critical thinkers. Wiener received a PhD in comparative cultural and literary studies with a minor in anthropology and a postgraduate certificate in medical anthropology from the University of Arizona. She joined the faculty at Binghamton University in 2005. Wiener has published seven refereed articles, a half dozen review articles, a refereed book chapter and several other scholarly works, conference proceedings and an accepted manuscript. She also has a manuscript under review. Wiener has provided editorial services to a number of publications, including Families in Society, Lyceum Books, the Council of Social Work Education 2008 Annual Meeting, Pearson Arts and Sciences publications and SAGE publications. She is an editorial board member and adviser for Women’s studies for the future: Foundations, interrogations, politics and a member of the National Association of Social Workers, the Council on Social Work Education, the American Association of University Women and the Learning Games Institute. She is also a research associate for the Center for Applied Community Research and Development.

CHANCELLOR’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN FACULTY SERVICE
The Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service recognizes individuals whose long history of service to the campus, State University, local community or professional societies/organizations sets them apart as well as those who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in local or system-wide faculty governance.

Professor Thomas F. Kelly arrived at Binghamton University in 1984 as associate dean and associate professor in the School of Management and has also served as dean of the School of Management and vice president for external affairs. He oversaw initial Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation at the bachelor’s and master’s levels in accounting and management, development and approval of the PhD program in management, doubling of the school’s faculty, increased faculty diversity and establishment of the Center for Leadership Studies. While an administrator, Kelly taught graduate courses, mentored many directors of local community service agencies and has played a key role guiding myriad local organizations as a member of their boards. His teaching and research on business ethics and his committee work in the School of Management are key to its success. Once new faculty have been hired, he is supportive and helpful. His willingness to mentor colleagues and others is extraordinary. Kelly coordinates the Richard Reeves-Ellington Annual Case Competition and the PriceWaterhouseCoopers Annual Case Competition. He also serves as a member of the University Personnel Committee, the School of Management Junior Personnel Committee, the Senior Personnel Committee, the Master’s Programs Committee and as a co-mentor to a junior faculty member. He has established scholarship and award funds and provided pro bono work to numerous not-for-profit and for-profit organizations and businesses. Kelly has also served as chair of the University Personnel Committee for Professional Schools, has chaired the Committee for University/Community Partnerships and has served on the Faculty Senate. He earned a PhD in higher education administration and organization from Cornell University.

Rosmarie Thee Morewedge, associate professor of German, received a PhD in German with a minor in folklore and Indo-European mythology from the University of California, Los Angeles. She has played a critical role in expanding the study of language and culture and developing Binghamton University’s strategic plan for international education since joining Binghamton’s faculty in 1968. She founded and directs the Leipzig study-abroad program and directs the Graz study-abroad program, has served on countless committees and as department chair for over 20 years; served on the Middle States Accreditation Undergraduate Task Force, the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate, the Strategic Planning Council and the Center for Learning and Teaching Steering Committee; and served as a member of the International Education Advisory Committee and an adviser to the Campus Fulbright Program. Awarded the University’s first Award for Excellence in International Education in 2001, Morewedge is also a recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Binghamton University Council/Foundation Award. A natural collaborator, she worked across schools to create a dual-degree program for engineering and computer science students in the Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science. She has devoted her time to professional associations in leadership positions, served as an evaluator for the New York State Department of Education and National Evaluation Systems and at the international level as an examiner for the Goethe Institute and a member of its Trainer Network. For her service, Morewedge also received the Goethe Institute and American Association of Teachers of German Certificate of Merit. She also worked closely with The Susquehanna School, formerly an independent, non-sectarian school for students ages 3-13, to expand foreign language opportunities and improve the teaching of foreign language.

A member of the Binghamton University faculty for more than 30 years, Elizabeth Tucker, professor of English, is dedicated to her department, school and students. Her service includes serving as the London Program Faculty Director, graduate director, undergraduate director and a member of the Undergraduate Task Force and the Graduate Policies Committee. She has served on, and provided leadership for, the Exemplary Student Committee, the Discovery Liaison Committee, the Transfer Student Initiatives Committee, the Binghamton Fund, the Academic Advising Hiring Committee, the All-University Personnel Committee, the Distinguished Dissertation Committee, the Fulbright Advisory Committee and many more. Tucker received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and has chaired six doctoral committees and served on nearly 20 others, including several in other disciplines. She received her PhD in folklore from Indiana University. As faculty master for the Dickinson Community for eight years and the Apartment Communities, Tucker has helped integrate students’ academic and co-curricular experiences to forge a seamless learning community. In the Apartment Communities, Tucker established a Fellows Program and launched or expanded several initiatives to serve students, also creating a new course — Senior Year Experience — now a permanent part of the curriculum. In 2000, she received the Binghamton University Foundation award for Volunteer of the Year. She is an active community volunteer, participating in flood disaster relief efforts and volunteering for the Empire State Games, the Girl Scouts, the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse (CHOW) and local schools.

UNIVERSITY AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
The University Award for Excellence in International Education was created to recognize Binghamton faculty and staff for outstanding efforts in support of the University’s longstanding commitment to internationalization.
Nancy A. Paul, director of the Career Development Center, is well known at Binghamton University and beyond for her innovative leadership and support of international education. While the center has received numerous awards, Paul herself was recognized in 2008 with her selection as a Fulbright Scholar. The U.S.-Germany International Education Administrators Program, one of only three offered by Fulbright to U.S. college administrators, sends participants to Germany for two weeks of learning and travel that provide an introduction to the country and its higher education system. While Paul had previously visited career centers at individual universities in Norway and England, her Fulbright experience allowed her to place career services in the context of a national education structure. Paul has been instrumental in helping students see their on-campus experiences as part of a global experience. For nearly 20 years, Binghamton students have benefited from programs jointly sponsored by the Career Development Center and the Office of International Student and Scholar Services and she works closely with the Office of International Programs. Spring 2008 workshops for international students included such topics as internship searches, job searches and U.S.-style interviews. In 2006, Paul helped found the Binghamton University Globalistas, a group that promotes international events on campus. The group’s first sponsored event, in 2007, was a daylong series of career programming for students, faculty and staff called “Picture Yourself Global! Preparing for Work in the Global Economy.” The group has continued to develop programming under Paul’s guidance, furthering awareness and visibility of international programming on campus. She received a master of science degree in counseling and student development from the State University of New York at Albany.

Qianghua Wang, scenic artist and assistant technical director in the Department of Theatre, is credited as largely responsible for establishing exchanges between China and Binghamton University’s theatre department that have added depth to the department’s curriculum and provided exceptional international experiences for students and faculty alike. To escape the repression of the Cultural Revolution, Wang left Shanghai at the peak of his professional and teaching career, which included 14 years as scene designer and scenic artist for the Shanghai Shaoxing Opera Company and five years on the faculty of the Shanghai Theatre Academy, his alma mater. He arrived at Binghamton in 1987 as a master’s student in theatre and after earning his degree was hired to work in the scene shop where he remains a valuable resource, inspiring others to help him build bridges to his homeland. The Total Art of Chinese Theatre Program, an intercultural academic and artistic program, was created to build those bridges and has enriched the Department of Theatre through a study-abroad program that has taken students three times to China and spawned interactions including workshops, performances and faculty exchanges. These efforts included a production of Romeo and Juliet in the style of the Beijing Opera performed at Binghamton. He remains the moving force behind all of the Department of Theatre’s Chinese-related activities, serving as a liaison and interpreter and establishing contacts and relationships with Chinese counterparts. His efforts have contributed substantially to international education and to the internationalization of the University’s curriculum and culture.

CHANCELLOR’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
The Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service was created to recognize those with extraordinary professional achievement who have repeatedly sought improvement of themselves, their campuses and ultimately, the State University of New York, and in doing so, have transcended the normal definitions of excellence.

Barbara Jean Fairbairn, director of Services for Students with Disabilities, earned her master of science degree in rehabilitation counseling from West Virginia University and completed postgraduate work in psychology at Queens College. She has spent more than 30 years creating an environment where those with disabilities can live, learn and grow. From physical facilities to professors, from students and staff to community members, Fairbairn has been relentless in making it possible to assimilate those with special needs into places and situations that at one time might have been closed to them. She has been instrumental in ensuring that physical aids — such as automatic doors, curb cuts, ramps and accessible bathrooms — were added to University architecture. In academics, she was influential in the installation of adaptive software programs in public computers. Fairbairn also has worked hard to educate faculty, staff and students about how particular disabilities affect individuals and how best to accommodate those who need special services. In addition, Fairbairn has a firm understanding of the legal requirements for equal access and inclusion. She strives to maintain a healthy balance between advocacy for equal access and empathy for those struggling with how best to implement effective, affordable and fair policies. Fairbairn’s efforts extend into the community, where she has been involved in groups that advocate for the disabled. Her efforts to educate, lead and counsel have an impact on all at the University: Students with disabilities learn to advocate for themselves, which enriches their development as independent individuals. And all people, no matter their abilities, are encouraged to look at others for who they are, not what they are.

John R. Schwartz, chief of police and director of public safety, earned a bachelor of science degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology and completed training at the FBI National Academy. He has served the University for 32 years, taking what was once an unfocused “security guard/peace officer” department and building it into a full-fledged police department with some of the highest entrance qualifications of any police agency in New York and some of the highest training standards in Broome County. Schwartz’s success lies in his ability to anticipate change, think creatively and balance the needs and concerns of “town” and “gown.” Examples tell his story best: Binghamton was the first SUNY school to employ a full-time emergency manager prior to the shootings at Virginia Tech and was among the first SUNY campuses to have electronic access systems in residence halls. University police receive training specific to understanding the psychology of young people, making them better able to deal with students who may find themselves in difficult situations because of bad decisions and inexperience. Police in Vestal and Binghamton have asked for similar training. Schwartz’s ability to attend to details while seeing the big picture has earned him praise. His leadership has been instrumental during many campus/community events such as when the Events Center quickly became an emergency shelter during the flood of 2006 and, later, working to ensure traffic patterns to and from the Events Center for the Franklin Graham program were orderly and safe. Schwartz’s unwavering standards of excellence have ensured that Binghamton has a police force that is a model in the state system.

CHANCELLOR’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SCHOLARSHIP AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES
The Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities recognizes faculty who consistently engage in and have established a solid record of scholarship and creative productivity
in addition to their teaching responsibilities.

Leslie Heywood, professor of English, joined Binghamton’s faculty in 1993 and is a prolific writer. She has published two books of poetry, The Proving Grounds: Poems and Natural Selection: Poems for an Environmentalist Century, as well as 40 individual poems. Her poems have appeared in journals such as Prairie Schooner, Paterson Literary Review, Connecticut Review and Louisiana Literature. Her scholarly books include Third Wave Agenda: Being Feminist, Doing Feminism with co-editor Jennifer Drake — named a Notable New Anthology by The Nation and a Recommended Book by the New York Review of Books Reader’s Catalog — Bodymakers: A Cultural Anatomy of Women’s Bodybuilding; Built to Win: The Rise of the Female Athlete as Cultural Icon; The Women’s Movement Today: An Encyclopedia of Third-Wave Feminism and The Primary Documents of Third Wave Feminism. Heywood’s memoir, Pretty Good for a Girl, was named a Breakthrough Book by Lingua Franca. She has both creative non-fiction and scholarly books forthcoming and has made contributions that bridge the humanities and sciences, evidenced by her recent appointment to the editorial board of EvoS: The Journal of the Evolutionary Studies Consortium that finds its foundation in biology. Heywood’s work has been nominated for the prestigious Pushcart Prize. She serves on editorial boards for the Journal of Sport and Social Issues and The Berkshire Encyclopedia of World Sport, and is a member of the Modern Languages Association, the American Sociological Association, the Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment, and the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport, among others. Heywood earned her PhD in English with a critical theory emphasis from the University of California, Irvine. She is a past recipient of the Chancellor’s and University Awards for Excellence in Teaching.

N. Eva Wu, professor of electrical and computer engineering, conducts research in fault diagnosis, prognosis and fault-tolerant control of safety critical systems; command and control supporting systems for air operations; and robust control of low-noise directional acoustic sensors for performance enhancement. Wu earned her PhD from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She joined Binghamton University in 1988. Wu has authored 27 peer-reviewed publications and 54 refereed conference publications and her work has been cited over 460 times. She has been the principal investigator for 15 funded research projects for agencies, including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and major corporations such as Lockheed Martin. The first female promoted to the rank of professor in the Watson School, Wu also served as interim department chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Her research into complex systems that must function despite component and subsystem failure has applications for the military, aerospace systems and life-critical information management systems. Wu is noted for her ability to bridge disciplines within engineering and has published work from those collaborations. She has also served on program committees for technical conferences and as a guest editor of the Proceedings of the International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC) Symposium on Fault Detection, Isolation, and Safety of Technical Processes.

Chuan-Jian (CJ) Zhong, professor of chemistry, has earned an international reputation as a prolific scientist in the development of nanomaterials, with a specialization in core-shell structures. His work is laying the foundation for next-generation technologies from sensors to energy generation. He joined the faculty at Binghamton University in 1998 and conducts research into challenging issues in chemical/biological sensors, fuel-cell catalysis, biomedical devices and alternative energy. Holder of six patents, his work has led to the development of a number of important technologies in the design and fabrication of functional nanoparticles and nanomaterials. His work is also helping to explore the industrial applications in microsensor technology, fuel-cell technology and biomedical probes. Zhong also has technologies licensed to industry, including to NSC Technology, a New York-based company he co-founded. A recipient of the distinguished National Science Foundation CAREER Award, Zhong has garnered research grants from a wide variety of sources, including the Petroleum Research Fund, the Department of Defense, the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy and industry such as 3M and Honda. He has more than 119 publications in leading scholarly journals and in the last decade has received nearly 2,000 citations. Zhong earned a PhD in physical chemistry from Xiamen University in Fujian Province, China.

CHANCELLOR’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN CLASSIFIED SERVICE
The University Award for Excellence in Classified Service recognizes superb performance in fulfilling the job description for the position held, supported by evidence of excellent work and high degrees of reliability, resourcefulness and initiative.

Lorraine B. Corwin, agency program aide in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, is self-taught and highly skilled in computerized information management. Corwin has shown uncommon initiative, becoming proficient in the programming of Recruitment Plus, a College Board Recruitment product, virtually on her own, and then training admissions staff and other offices how to use it. She also wrote the procedures for Binghamton’s use of the product. Corwin’s ability to think logically and systematically allows her to assess information and then determine a way to use computer systems to make a process work more efficiently. After the Recruitment Plus project came Banner. Corwin was responsible for seeing and suggesting a greater role for Banner, which is now used to process admissions applications. Her initiative and creativity have allowed the admissions office to handle the increase in applications and campus visitors by making the computer systems do much of the work. Because Corwin is a respected problem-solver, supervisors and co-workers are confident they can go to her for help and then rely on her to communicate solutions to other people. The fact that several of her letters of recommendation came from information technologies personnel is testament to Corwin’s abilities. One letter-writer said, “I have worked with many non-technical personnel ... and Lorraine is easily one of the best I have worked with. ... She not only has a complete understanding of the functional business processes, but she also has an excellent grasp of the technical aspects.”

Stefanie Czebiniak is secretary to the undergraduate director of English. As such, she sits in the “hot seat” of the department, putting out fires, soothing frayed nerves and keeping the department running efficiently. Each semester she builds, revises and adjusts the schedule, a procedure described as intense, prone to error and involving a high level of sophisticated computer use. Czebiniak gets it right every time. In addition, she makes sure all of the department’s approximately 800 students complete their requirements so they can graduate on time. When any student has a problem or question — wanting to drop or add a class, discuss grade problems or arrange independent studies — it is Czebiniak they see first. It’s not uncommon for the line of students to stretch out the door. She gets to know them, listens patiently and offers expert advice. She is heavily involved in the Honors Program and Internship Program, two major initiatives of the English Department. Czebiniak ensures the honors graduations happen without a hitch and also tracks participants in the department’s internship program, handling paperwork, correspondence and periodic updates for interns and sponsors alike. As many of those writing in support of her award noted, all who come into contact with Czebiniak walk away knowing she cares. She graduated from the Latin American Institute in New York City and earned an associate degree in applied science at Broome Community College.

Barbara Dahulich Knighton earned an associate degree in liberal arts at Broome Community College. She has served Binghamton University for 25 years, currently as secretary in the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies. As Knighton moved from positions in one department to the next, she left behind these lasting effects: improved office organization and efficiencies, appreciation for a strong work ethic and heightened awareness of the impact one person can have on so many others. Knighton moved to her job at CEMERS as staffing was being streamlined and requisite skills (particularly data management via computer programs) were increasing. She assumed the duties formerly held by an administrative assistant (aided by a graduate assistant) — becoming a one-woman show handling myriad new responsibilities. Not long after she started, the CEMERS director was on leave for several months, during which time Knighton kept the center running by managing the day-to-day operations and by enlisting faculty to advise students in the director’s absence — all while preparing for a major conference. One letter-writer noted that Knighton wears many hats: those of administrative assistant, event coordinator, crisis manager, publicist, friend and adviser. He followed up by saying that she brings an uncommon degree of energy, wisdom and commitment to those jobs. Her calm, caring demeanor, innovative thinking and dedication have touched many, from staff and faculty to students and guests of the University.

BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY COUNCIL/FOUNDATION AWARDS
The Binghamton University Council/Foundation Awards were established to recognize extraordinary commitment to the campus community. Faculty/staff and student recipients are selected for their contributions to the strength and vitality of the University.

Donald A. Cole was program coordinator of the Liberty Partnership Program in the Binghamton City School District for 19 years. Liberty Partnership, hosted by the School of Education, works with families, schools and communities to encourage higher academic achievement by at-risk students, those most likely to fail or drop out without effective intervention. Cole has helped hundreds of students turn their lives around and become academically, socially and emotionally empowered. Some have gone on to careers as doctors, lawyers and engineers; all are better citizens. Cole’s initiatives include a multicultural awareness program to improve relations among the diverse student body at Binghamton High School, the “Liberty Scholars” advance placement program with Broome Community College and various community service projects for youths done in cooperation with local agencies. He was instrumental in developing the Liberty Partnership’s highly recognized RESOLVE program, which helps youths master the skills of communication, conflict resolution and anger management. Cole’s commitment to the public good has been recognized with an annual Phoenix Award from Citizens Action of New York State. He earned a master of arts degree in social sciences at Binghamton University and completed certification as a school district administrator at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. He recently left Binghamton to take a new position at the Milton Hershey School in Hershey, Pa.

H. Stephen Straight, professor of anthropology and of linguistics, and senior advisor for international initiatives in the Office of International Programs, joined Binghamton University in 1970. He has been instrumental in developing and fostering programs in international education that have benefited students at Binghamton University, within the SUNY system and beyond. His expertise as an anthropologist, linguist and administrator has enabled him to not only envision new approaches to internationalizing education, but to make these programs a reality. He was the founding director, along with Ellen Badger, director of the Office of International Student and Scholar Services, of the Languages Across the Curriculum (LxC) program, an enrichment program that provides students the opportunity to apply existing language skills, other than English, in courses outside the language departments. This exposure to intercultural information, international perspectives and content-focused multilingual skills better prepares students to meet global opportunities and challenges. Since its creation in 1992, more than 6,000 students have participated in the award-winning LxC program, which, in any given year, supports about 18 languages. Straight, who earned a PhD in linguistics from the University of Chicago, has been a leader in helping other colleges and universities develop their own LxC programs. His multi-dimensional focus on international education has helped Binghamton expand its international impact and create the popular Global Studies program. A significant result of his work has been Binghamton’s development of dual-diploma degrees with universities in Turkey, one in Russia and one in Mexico. In 1996, Straight received the Chancellor’s and University Awards for Excellence in Teaching, and until recently he was vice provost for Undergraduate Education and International Affairs.